Improvement in wire stands for picture-holders



WgJ. JOHNSON. Wire Stand for Picture-Holders.

Patented Nov'. 27-, 1877.

N PETERS, FHOTO'LITHDGRAPMER. WASHINGTON. D, C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. JOHNSON, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WIRE STANDS FOR PICTURE-HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,554, dated November 27, 1877; application filed April 7, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. J oHNsoN, of Newton, Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Wire Stand or Easel for Picture-Holder, of which the following is a specification:

This invention consists in a wire frame adapted to stand alone, as an easel, provided with a spring or springs to receive and retain a card-photograph or similar article. The drawings represent various forms of frames embodying my invention, in each of which the spring is an essential feature, and is designated by the letter a.

Figure 1 represents my invention embodied in the form of an easel, having its front legs b b formed of two continuous wires twisted together and bent in a curve at the top, at which point the rear leg d, of similar construction, is united by clinching thereon the separated ends of the two wires of vWhich it is composed. A cross-brace, 6, also of twisted Fig. 3 difl'ers from Fig. 1, in having a single central spring formed of a plain wire doubled upon itself, twisted once or twice, and its ends extended each way, so as to form the brace 0' and to clasp round the legs I) b.

Fig. 4 differs from Fig. 1, in that the separated wires which, together, form the leg 01 are clinched to the top of the strand 1) b, and extend down so as to connect with the brace e, and return upward to form springs a a.

It is obvious that the construction of the frames and the arrangement of the springs may be varied as taste and convenience may dictate. v

I disclaim a wire frame in any form, whether with or without. a supporting-shelf or hooks, if destitute of a retaining-spring. I also disclaim all forms of book-holders; but

I claim as my invention I The Wire stand or easel herein described, having legs I) b d formed of twisted wire, and provided with springs a, adaptedto receive and retain a card or similar thin article, substantially as set forth.

WM. J. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

- A. H. SPENCER,

E. A. PHELPS. 

